Strengthening scientific research and management across northern Australia through Indigenous rangers and community collaboration

Strengthening scientific research and management across northern Australia through Indigenous rangers and community collaboration Conference Paper

17th Australian Rangeland Society Biennial Conference

• Author(s): R. Dobbs, R. Cossart, P. Close, P. Davies
• Published: 2012
• Publisher: Australian Rangeland Society

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Abstract: Sustainable natural resource management (NRM) requires research and planning to be complemented by strong community engagement and input. This is especially true in northern Australia where the Indigenous and community level values may not directly align with national, state or regional NRM objectives or priorities. The Waterways Education Program (WEP) provides opportunities for enhancing local community knowledge and participation in NRM, by training Indigenous rangers in remediation actions and monitoring techniques for rivers and wetlands. The program has increased the capacity of Indigenous rangers to monitor and manage their water resources as part of a broader approach to landscape scale conservation and management focusing on the impacts of weeds, ferals and changing fire regimes. We present two WEP case studies highlighting the benefits of increasing the capacity of local communities to input and engage in NRM. This collaborative approach provides a template for future initiatives and programs, aiming to strengthen community engagement.

• Urls: https://www.austrangesoc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Paper-6-1-Rebecca-Dobbsx.pdf , https://www.austrangesoc.com.au/biennial-conference/17th-biennial-conference-papers-2012/
• Publisher Location: Kununurra, Western Australia,